Chicago commuters got a little extra sparkle on their drive today when Old National Bank’s iconic Kennedy Expressway billboard lit up with a cheeky nod to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement:
“Mr. Swift has a nice ring to it.”
The idea was conceived, approved by the client, and live in under three hours by Old National Bank’s creative agency partner, Schafer Condon Carter (SCC). It’s the same shop behind the board’s now-famous one-liners that have become a daily ritual for drivers.
When Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement, the marketing world didn’t just sit back—they sprinted. Within minutes, brands across categories were storming social media with winks, puns, and discounts.
Food favorites like Starbucks quipped anxiously about their PSL (“Are we supposed to keep talking about PSL like nothing happened???”), Panera urged fans to “just say yeast,” placing a ring inside a loaf, and Auntie Anne’s cheekily asked to be the flower girl. Meanwhile, Olipop and DoorDash offered themed promos featuring Swift’s lucky number 13—Olipop even ran a long-term subscription discount using code LOVERS13.
Some businesses turned their real estate moves into romance—Olipop offering a discount, and even the Empire State Building submitted a playful TikTok pitch to host the wedding. Luxury retail caught the wave too: Ralph Lauren saw its striped dress—worn by Swift in the engagement photos—sell out instantly. Cartier watch demand exploded, and Travis Kelce’s jersey sales shot up 200%.
Brands leaped not just to ride the buzz, but to speak in a moment that felt cultural and electric.
In May, SCC turned Old National Bank’s Kennedy Expressway billboard into a cultural moment. In May, when Chicago-native Robert Prevost became Pope Leo XIV—the first American pontiff—the same agency leapt into action.
Using their now-signature rapid-turnaround creativity, they installed the witty, hometown-shout-out messaging: “Deep Dish. Now available in Rome.” followed by “Congratulations Pope Leo XIV. Chicago is so proud!”
It’s a perfect showcase of SCC’s ability to blend local pride, timely humor, and brand messaging—transforming a billboard into a daily delight and making sure Chicagoans feel seen, entertained, and connected to their city.
“We look at the billboard as a unique opportunity to entertain and inform thousands of Chicagoans about bank services and current events through surprising, creative daily changes,” SCC Creative Director Cristen Young, said back in May, about Pope Leo XIV’s billboard.
Barry Burdiak, also a Creative Director at SCC, added, “It’s super rewarding to see how many people share photos of our work on social media. It’s become something drivers look forward to on their commute—especially now, given all the construction.”
The Taylor & Travis billboard continues SCC’s “challenger brand” mentality, helping Old National Bank foster a uniquely Chicago dialogue with the city it serves. In Burdiak’s words, “There’s a daily, personal conversation happening between the brand and the city.”
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Chicago’s Pope gets the billboard treatment from Old National Bank
